The last glow of sunset gradually faded, and stars dotted the night sky over the Crow-Cock Kingdom.
The great black chicken, pitch-black from head to toe with glossy feathers, strolled leisurely along with a swagger that acknowledged neither kin nor friend.
"Cluck-cluck!"
Every so often, it let out a clear cry, drawing exclamations of wonder from the ministers and commoners around it.
Everyone admired this "divine bird that guarded the kingdom" with great enthusiasm, immersed in the joy of having survived the ordeal and seen their kingdom reborn.
Only Sun Wukong stood off to one side with the Golden-Hooped Staff on his shoulder, scratching his monkey head with a miserable expression.
He scratched his ears and cheeks, his monkey face a picture of indecision.
All Old Sun had to do to kill enemies along the way was swing his staff and smash them.
But why was this blasted ranking system more of a headache than punishment?
Sun Wukong grumbled inwardly.
The members of the Preaching Squad only needed to get their hands moving.
But he, Sun Wukong, had far more to think about.
There was no helping it.
With a system bestowed by his revered master, he had no choice but to think.
As the team's core fighting force, he naturally wanted to give everyone a "Top-tier" rating so his brothers could all earn more rewards.
But whenever he recalled the painful experience of giving everyone "Top-tier" last time, Sun Wukong couldn't help shivering.
Last time, everyone worked together, and Old Sun got so happy he gave them all "Top-tier."
And what happened?
Master's system decided we'd "overdone it and lacked differentiation," deducted points outright, and downgraded everyone to "Trash"!
Once they were all rated trash, everyone was punished.
Sun Wukong sighed, sweeping his Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils over